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Time of India

Fragile bones can't hurt his unbreakable resolve

1 2 Surat: His videos have been viewed over 400 million times online, he raised $4 million for various non-profits, he holds the Guinness World Record for the longest raised leg hold — two hours — and has travelled to nine countries to scored 1580 out of 1600 in the Scholastic Assessment Test, the standardized test for admission to colleges in the US and this week, he finished his Baccalaureate in Interdisciplinary Music Studies with a perfect 4 CGPA at the world's top music college, Berklee College of Music in with 35 fractures and having suffered over 150 fractures so far, Sparsh Shah has undergone several surgeries. He has eight titanium-iron rods and 22 screws in his body. He underwent four eye surgeries, resulting in reduced vision in one eye and weeks of rest, but he completed his graduation in time with flying was born with osteogenesis imperfecta — the disorder made famous in the 2000 Bruce Willis starrer 'Unbreakable', is colloquially called brittle bone disease .His parents initially feared even touching him. That was how he got his name, Sparsh, meaning 'touch'. He may be physically challenged, but his hard work and passion have moved mountains. At the age of 22, he has achieved goals that are nigh impossible for fully able persons as well."Impossible is actually 'I'm possible'. We must understand the true meaning," Sparsh told TOI over the phone from the US. "I want to produce original music and inspire people to work hard. One just needs to decide and start working."There were cheers when Sparsh went forward to accept his degree at his graduation. His parents, Hiren and Jigisha, who encouraged him and cared for him, beamed with pride at his graduation."We are blessed to have Sparsh in our lives. With him, we get the energy to keep going and do positive things in life. He is our source of inspiration and through him, we can inspire the world," a proud Hiren from Surat, and now senior officials in American companies, Hiren and Jigisha moved to the US 22 years ago. "Sparsh is God's gift to us, and we are blessed to be able to share this gift with the world," said Jigisha.